Cody McKenzie returns to lightweight, meets Sam Stout at UFC on FOX 9

The card for the UFC’s return to Sacramento is one step closer to being complete with the addition of a lightweight bout to the card.

Cody McKenzie (14-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) will return to 155 pounds after a two-fight stint at featherweight and will meet Sam Stout (19-9-1 MA, 8-8 UFC) on the show.

UFC officials today announced the fighters will fight at December’s UFC on FOX 9 event.

Featuring a lineup that includes a headlining contest between UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and challenger Josh Thomson, UFC on FOX 9 takes place on Dec. 14 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif.

The evening’s main card airs on FOX following prelims that air on FOX Sports 1 and stream on Facebook. The McKenzie-Stout fight will be part of the night’s preliminary card.

McKenzie got back in the win column in April with a unanimous decision win over Leonard Garcia at UFC 159 in New Jersey. Prior to that, he suffered a 31-second TKO loss to Chad Mendes at UFC 148 in his featherweight debut. The “TUF 12″ veteran is best known for his modified “McKenzietine” guillotine choke, which he has used in 11 of his 14 career wins. His win over Garcia was the first time he had gone the distance in his MMA career.

Stout will be hoping for a return to getting his hand raised after a “Fight of the Night” performance against James Krause at UFC 161 in June. The back-and-forth fight ended when Krause forced Stout to tap with just 13 seconds left in the fight, and Krause picked up a double bonus for the win in his UFC debut. Prior to that loss, Stout beat Caros Fodor by split decision in February. He hasn’t lost two straight since 2008, but it’s also been more than two years since his last winning streak.